Container



July 24, 1962 H. w. FORRER CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 1. 1959 27 I IHIHHHUI llll INVENTOR.

HOMER W- FORRER III 77% if W ATTORNEY FIG 2 July 24, 1962 H. w. FORRER CONTAINER l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

INVENTOR HOMER W. FORREJR By ,14; 7/; W

FIGJ

ATTORNEY! United States This invention relates to containers and more particularly to consumer type containers for liquids such as milk, juices, and the like.

In presently known liquid containers it is the practice to construct such containers of paperboard impregnated with wax or other sealing material. Ordinarily such containers are formed first and then dipped in a solution of molten wax. Frequently undesired particles of wax are found in liquids dispensed by the container and are a source of customer dissatisfaction and complaint.

Furthermore it is current practice to form liquid containers with a gable type top which precludes stacking one liquid container on top of another.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an improved liquid-tight container the interior of which is completely free of undesired loose wax or other foreign particles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sturdy, liquid-tight container which is particularly well adapted for stacking in two or more layers.

The invent-ion in one form as applied to liquid containers made of paperboard comprises a rectangular recessed bottom panel having a single downwardly extending flange along opposite edges which flange is enveloped along each such edge by a downwardly extending inwardly folded end flange on the bottom of the adjacent side wall, a pair of double flanges along the remaining edges of the bottom panel and arranged to envelop the lower part of the remaining two side walls, the said end flanges being long enough to exert a sealing pressure against the ends of the double flanges which pressure tends to seal the container corners. According to a feature of the invention the side walls are tapered so that the flat top panel is smaller than the recessed bottom panel and so that the top of one carton can be received in the recessed bottom of a carton stacked thereon. If desired a center baflle is provided to reinforce the side walls in containers of substantial capacity.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a carton with portions broken away and which embodies features of the invention; FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line indicated at 22 in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line designated 3-3 in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line designated 44 in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the side walls of the carton depicted in FIG. 1 is formed; FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank in solid lines from which the top of the carton depicted in FIG. 1 is formed, FIG. 6 also showing in dotted lines a complementary top panel nested with the panel shown in solid lines thereby to effect maximum use of a material from which the top panel is formed; FIG. 7 is a plan view of the center baflie shown in FIG. 1; and in which FIG. 8 is a plan view of the bottom panel and its flanges utilized in the carton depicted in FIG. 1.

With reference to FIG. 1 the numeral 1 generally designates the carton top while the numeral 2 generally designates the carton bottom. Numerals 4, 5 and 6 designate the respective side walls of the carton while the numeral 7 generally designates the center baffle. Generally designated by the numeral 8 is a pouring spout.

atent U l Patented July 24, 1962 As can be seen in FIG. 5 a lap panel 9 is foldably adjoined along fold line 10 to side wall 3. Lap panel 9 is secured by known means to the right band edge of side wall panel 6 with the fold line It coinciding with the edge 6A of panel 6 to form the tubular sidewall structure of the carton.

As already explained the carton sidewalls are tapered so that the top is somewhat smaller than the bottom of the carton. Thus the top edge 11 of panel 3 is somewhat shorter than the bottom edge 12 of that panel. In like fashion the top edges of panels 4, 5 and 6 each are somewhat shorter in length than the bottom edges of those panels.

For the purpose of forming a fluid-tight seal along the bottom edges of the panels 4- and 6 and also to ensure a sturdy construction particularly adapted to stacking one carton on top of another, the sidewall panels 4 and 6 are provided respectively with end flanges 13 and 14. These end flanges 13 and 14 are folded inwardly about the downwardly extending single flanges 15 and 16 formed along the end edges of bottom panel 2.

The inner surface of the blank depicted in FIG. 5 and from which the sidewalls are formed preferably is coated with a suitable heat-sealable, liquid-impervious material such as polyethylene or the like. Similarly the inner surface of the blank depicted in FIG. 8 is coated with heatsealable, liquid-impervious material and in the preferred embodiment of the invention all parts of the carton are constructed of paperboard. Thus with the blank 2 inserted within the tubular element comprising the sidewalls, heat and pressure may be applied by suitable known means to establish a fluid-tight seal between the single flange 15 of the closure panel 2 and the end flange 14 forming a part of the side panel 6. This structure is shown in fragmentary form in FIG. 3. In like fashion the end flange 13 envelops the flange 16.

Disposed about the other edges of the closure panel 2 is a double flange 17 and a similar double flange 18. These flanges 17 and 18 are respectively provided with inner panels 19 and 20. The double flange 18 envelops the lower extremity of the sidewall 5 as is depicted in the fragmentary sectional view designated as FIG. 2. In like fashion the double flange 17 envelops the lower edge of the sidewall panel 3. Since the parts are coated with a heat-scalable, liquid-impervious material, a suitable bond may be formed by simply applying heat and pressure.

According to a feature of the invention the end flanges 13 and 14 are made of such length from the edges 13A to 13B and from 14A to 14B that sealing pressure is applied to the ends of the inner panels 19 and 20. Stated otherwise the length from edge 13A to edge 13B is slightly longer than the width of side wall 4 so that the addition of inner panel 20 between the lower edge of side wall 5 and end 13B of end flange 13 results in the application of sealing pressure to the adjacent end of panel 20 by the abutting end 13B of end flange 13 as indicated in FIG. 2. Similarly end 13A of end flange 13 presses against one end of inner panel 18. In like fashion the ends 1 1A and 14B of end flange 14 press against the other ends of inner flanges 18 and 26 respectively.

In this manner and according to a feature of the invention a sealing pressure is applied which eflectively prevents leakage at the container corners and which. is panticularly well adapted to heat-sealing although it should be pointed out that this feature could be utilized in conjunction with conventional gluing if desired and that the container generally could be of the glued type rather than heat-sealed.

Since the container shown in the drawings is peculiarly adapted by virtue of its particular proportions to the construction of a two-quart container, it is desirable to provide reinforcing means along the midportion of the container intermediate the bottom and top thereof. Stated otherwise, since the sidewalls 3 and 5 are approximately twice as wide as the sidewalls 4 and 6 it is desirable to provide reinforcing means such as the battle 7 to prevent outward bowing of walls 3 and 5.

As is shown in FIG. 7 the baffle plate 7 is provided with flanges 21, 22, 23 and 24- which are foldable along fold lines 25, 26, 27 and 28 to form means for securing the baffle 7 to the inner parts of the sidewalls. Preferably all the surfaces of the center baflie 7 are coated with suitable heat-sealable fluid-impervious material such as polyethylene. Thus it is possible to secure the flanges 21, 22, 23 and 24 to the sidewalls 3, 4, 5 and 6 by a heat-sealing process. As can clearly be seen in the drawing the corners are cut away at '29, 30, 31 and 32. The cut away corners obviously facilitate pouring.

It is contemplated that the container of this invention be provided with a top panel 1 which is secured to the sidewalls 3-6 before the bottom closure 2 is secured to the sidewalls. It is thus also planned that the container be filled from the bottom, i.e. the container is inverted and filled and subsequently the bottom closure 2 is aflixed to the side walls as above described.

In order to facilitate filling by a pair of liquid dispensing tubes inserted from above, the apertures 33 and 34- are provided for receiving the filling tubes, the lower ends of which will be in the region adjacent the panel 1 when the carton is inverted. In this manner the accumulation of air pockets and foaming is substantially minimized or avoided completely.

The top panel 1 as depicted in FIG. 6 is provided with side flanges 35, 36, 3'7 and 38. At three of the corners suitable Webs 39, 4t) and 41 are provided to aid in Sealing these corners by affording an additional mass of material. The scored line 42 in top panel 43 coincides with scored line 44 to define a pouring spout when the panel 38 is folded alongside the edge 1A of the top panel and when the flange 45 is secured in overlapping relation to the end of flange 37 adjacent the edge 1B of the top panel. The top flanges 3'5, 36, 37 and 38 all are folded downwardly about the top edges of the side panels 5, 4, 3 and 6 respectively, and are secured thereto by suitable means. Slot 46 defines a pouring spout and a sheet of foil is laminated to the inside surface of the blank designated by the numeral 1 in FIG. 6. To open, the spout pressure is applied in the region immediately below the slot 46. The foil is thus severed and the spout may then be lifted upwardly as depicted in FIG. 1. The construction of the spout generally described above is fully described and claimed in my co-pending patent application Serial Number 856,509 filed December 1, 1959, and assigned to the assignee of this invention.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of the invention I do not wish to be limited thereto and intend in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States: is:

1. A liquid container comprising a plurality of adjoined side walls defining a tubular structure, -a liquid impervious heat sealable coating on the inner surfaces of said side walls, a closure panel having a single flange along one edge and adouble flange along an adjacent edge, a liquid impervious heat sealable coating on the inner surfaces of said closure panel and flanges, said double flange being arranged to receive and envelop an end edge of one of the container side wall-s and being secured thereto by said heat sealable coatings, an end flange formed along and end of another of said side walls adjacent said end of said one side wall, said end flange being folded inwardly at least partially to envelop said single flange on said closure panel and being secured thereto by said heat sealable coatings and being slightly longer than the width of the adjacent part of the adja- 4 cent side wall so that an end edge thereof engages the inner surface of said double flange at the adjacent end thereof to impart an effective and continuous sealing pressure thereto thereby to prevent liquid leakage at the corner defined by the junction of said one edge and said adjacent edge of said closure panel.

2. A liquid container comprising two pairs of side walls adjoined to define a tubular structure, a liquid impervious heat sealable coating on the inner surfaces of said side walls, the walls of each pair being of similar configuration and being disposed opposite each other, an inwardly extending end flange formed along one end of each wall of one pair of side walls, a rectangular closure panel coated with liquid impervious heat sealable material on its inner surface and having a main panel configured to conform with the inside of said tubular structure at one end thereof, said closure panel having a pair of outwardly disposed single flanges along opposite edges at least partially enveloped by the adjacent inwardly extending end flanges of said one pair of side walls and se cured thereto by liquid impervious heat sealable material, and a pair of outwardly disposed double flanges along opposite edges of said closure panel and enveloping the adjacent ends of the other pair of side walls and secured thereto by liquid impervious heat sealable material, said end flanges being slightly longer than the width of the adjacent part of the adjacent side wall so that the ends thereof engage the ends of said double flanges and impart a continuous sealing pressure thereto whereby at least a part of the ends of said double flanges are pressed against their associated side walls to establish a leakproof corner at each corner of said closure panel.

3. A paperboard liquid container comprising two pairs of side walls adjoined to define a tubular structure, a liquid impervious heat sealable coating on the inner surfaces of said side walls, the walls of each pair being of similar configuration and being disposed opposite each other, an inwardly extending end flange formed along one end of each wall of one pair of walls, a rectangular closure bottom panel coated with liquid impervious heat sealable material on its inner surface and having a main panel configured to conform with the inside of said tubular structure at one end thereof, said closure panel having a pair of outwardly disposed single flanges formed along opposite edges and at least partially enveloped by the adjacent inwardly extending end flanges of said one pair of side walls and secured thereto by liquid impervious heat sealable material, a pair of outwardly disposed double flanges formed along opposite edges of said closure panel and enveloping the adjacent ends of the other pair of said side walls and secured thereto by liquid impervious heat sealable material to define a recessed bottom, the side walls being inwardly tapered from the bottom to the top of the container and said end flanges being longer than the width of their associated side walls at least to the extent of the taper, and means defining a top closure secured to the other end of said tubular structure, said top closure having a main panel and downwardly extending outer flanges secured to the outer surfaces of said side walls, said main panel of said top closure being substantially flush with the top ends of said side walls, and said top closure being insertable into the recessed bottom of a similar container stacked thereon.

4. A liquid container comprising two pairs of side walls adjoined to define a tubular structure, a liquid impervious heat sealable coating on the inner surfaces of said side walls, the Walls of each pair being of similar configuration and being disposed opposite each other and the width of one pair of walls being substantially greater than the width of the other pair, an inwardly extending end flange formed along one end of each wall of one pair of walls, a rectangular closure bottom panel having a main panel configured to conform with the inside of said tubular structure at one end thereof, a liquid impervious heat scalable coating on the inner surface of said closure panel, said closure panel having a pair of outwardly disposed single flanges formed along opposite edges and at least partially enveloped by the adjacent inwardly extend ing end flanges of said one pair of side walls and secured thereto by said heat scalable coatings, a pair of outwardly disposed double flanges formed along opposite edges of said closure panel and enveloping the adjacent ends of the other pair of said side walls and secured thereto by said heat sealable material to define a recessed bottom, the side walls being inwardly tapered from the bottom to to the top of the container and said end flanges being longer than the width of their associated side walls at least to the extent of the taper, a flanged baffle plate of generally rectangular configuration corresponding with the cross section of the container side walls approximately midway between the :bottom and top of the cont ainer and affixed to said side walls intermediate their ends, said baffle plate being apertured to establish communication between the ends of said container, and means defining a top closure secured to the other end of said tubular structure, said top closure having a main panel and downwardly extending outer flanges secured to the outer surfaces of said side walls, said main panel of said top closure being substantially flush with the top ends of said side walls, and said top closure being insertable into the recessed bottom of a similar container stacked thereon.

5. A liquid container comprising two pairs of side walls adjoined to define a tubular structure, the walls of each pair being of similar configuration and being disposed opposite each other, an inwardly extending end flange formed along one end of each wall of one pair of walls, a rectangular closure bottom panel having a main panel configured to conform with the inside of said tubular structure at one end thereof, said closure panel having a pair of downwardly disposed single flanges along opposite edges and at least partially enveloped by the adjacent inwardly extending end flanges of said one pair of side walls and secured thereto, a pair of downwardly disposed double flanges along opposite edges of said closure panel and enveloping the adjacent ends of the other pair of said side walls and secured thereto to define a recessed bottom, the side walls being inwardly tapered from the bottom to the top of the container and said end flanges being wider than their associated side Walls at least to the extent of said taper, and means defining a top closure secured to the other end of said tubular structure, said top closure having a main panel and downwardly extending outer flanges secured to the outer surfaces of said side walls, said main panel of said top closure being substantially flush with the top ends of said side walls and said top closure being insertable into the recessed bottom of a similar container stacked thereon, said end flanges being of such length with respect to the width of the adjacent part of the adjacent. side wall that the ends thereof engage the ends of said double flanges and impart a sealing pressure thereto whereby at least a part of the ends of said double flanges are pressed against their associated side walls to establish a leakproof corner at each corner of said closure panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 918,138 Flora Apr. 13, 1909 1,208,081 Bennett Dec. 12, 19.16 1,820,549 Williams Aug. 25, 1931 2,293,142. Johnson Aug. 18, 1942 2,323,505 Wilcox July 6, 1943 2,740,573 Carter Apr. 3, 1956 

